27-year-old Kearny man's rape trial set to commence today: officials

Opening statements will be heard this morning in the trial of a 27-year-old Kearny mechanic who faces up to life in prison if convicted on charges that he raped women in Jersey City, North Bergen and Newark in 2005.

On Jan. 12, 2005, Rivadeneira, abducted, beat and repeatedly raped a woman after she left Penn Station in Newark, and later released her in Hillside. And on May 17, 2005, he forced a 16-year-old girl into a car in North Bergen, beat and raped her repeatedly, and later released her in Newark, the indictment says.